Exodus 5:11

11 Go ye, gather firewood where ye can find it; yet none of your work shall be diminished.

Exodus 5:11 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:11

Go ye, get ye straw, where you can find it
Before it was provided by the king, and brought to the brickkilns, but now they are bid to go and fetch it themselves, and get it where they could, whether in fields or barns; and if they were obliged to pay for it out of their labour; it was a greater oppression still:

yet not ought of your work shall be diminished;
they were to do the same work, and make the same number of bricks, as when straw was brought and given them; and no allowance made for waste of time in seeking, or expenses in procuring straw, which was very hard upon them.

Exodus 5:11 In-Context

9 Let more work be laid upon them that they may occupy themselves with it; and let them not regard words of deception.

10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you firewood.

11 Go ye, gather firewood where ye can find it; yet none of your work shall be diminished.

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather brush for firewood.

13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily quotas, as when there was firewood.